Zamarad

"Azh-mahk, travellers - Zamarad welcomes you."

Zamarad, also known as the Emerald Port, is the capital of Emmosh. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited city upon Ish'tar. Zamarad is a city of extreme wealth and luxury, home to a vast number of trading companies, guilds, and caravansaries. The city has an estimated population of 550,000.

Zamarad is divided into seventeen distinct wards, some fortified by walls and others unprotected. Each ward is further subdivided into a Qism, or "neighborhood", which consists of several Karachs, or "quarters/blocks". Despite this sprawl, very few of its streets are officially named, with directions typically given by referring to landmarks. The architecture is characterized by tall arches, squat domes, and slender minarets, primarily constructed from mudbrick laid in vibrant, decorative patterns, often complemented by bright paint, lapis lazuli, or glinting metal. The city's boundaries are fluid, ebbing and flowing with the trade season due to nomads and caravans frequently camped on its outskirts. Its port is one of the largest globally, capable of safely harboring six hundred ships behind its substantial sea walls, and dozens of starsailors.

Ward, Qism, and Karach

The 17 wards of Zamarad are each ruled by a vizar. Each Qism is overseen by a pasha who resides therein or a pashapti, a grouping of such pasha. In cases where there are no pasha living in the Qism, as may be the case in the poorer wards, Qism are overseen by groups of family leaders. Each Karach is typically owned by private landowners.

Arena Ward

Located in the northern corner of Zamarad, this broken-walled region is characterized by numerous warehouses, marketplaces, bazaars, and a high concentration of taverns. The Trade Way culminates in this ward, ensuring a continuous flow of caravans. It is also home to some of Zamarad’s poorer residents. The famous Arena Hariq, which can seat around 20,000 people, hosts loud, violent, and hugely popular gladiatorial combats and chariot races every second afternoon, with deaths being common. Beside it is the Palace of Glory, temple to Tannamyr. Many adventuring and exploring guilds, including the Intrepid Brotherhood of Sandstriders, the Nibiru Wayfinders, and the Pious Circle of Planetary Ecologists have their headquarters here. Popular taverns include the Myrmidon and the Trident’s Rest. The esteemed fighter school Sayid Al-Nasul and several mercenary companies, like the Company of the Rose and Valkan's Legion, are also found here.

Armada Ward

This ward, enclosed by high walls and secure gates, serves as the primary location for the Emmoshi Spicefleet's docks and barracks. It also houses various civilian buildings and the barracks for the Glinting Spears, Zamarad’s small standing army. It likewise serves as the location of the headquarters for the Ishtarran Starfleet's operations in Zamarad.